Bengaluru FC 1 (Thoi Singh – 27^th)

d/w

Pune FC 1 (Anthony D’Souza – 73^rd)

AIFF Media Team

BANGALORE: Pune FC held Bengaluru FC to a 1-1 draw in a crucial Airtel I-League encounter at the Bangalore Football Stadium on Friday (March 28, 2014).

Midfielder Thoi Singh gave Bengaluru FC a first-half lead only for substitute Anthony D’ Souza to equalise after change of ends.

With the title at stake, the urgency was evident from the first whistle. Thoi Singh was late to react from a clever Sunil Chhetri throw-in while for Pune FC their Australian winter -transfer recruit Milan Pavlovic sent a meek effort straight to second choice goalkeeper Soram Porei.

Few minutes later, Mustapha Riga shot inches wide from just outside the box. Just when Pune were looking the likelier to break the deadlock, the hosts capitalised from a swift move down the right.

BFC’s Australian striker Sean Rooney crossed for Captain Chhetri whose attempt came off the bar and Thoi, lurking around, tapped in an easy finish off the rebound.

The goal spurred the League leaders to life with the likes of Thoi and Rooney keeping the Pune FC defense on tenterhooks. The Red Lizards though could have equalised had Pavlovic’s header from defender Calum Angus’s flag kick not come off the horizontal.

Thoi continued his good work after the break trying his luck from distance with an audacious shot from 40-yards which almost kissed the bar on its way out. Soon after, Sean Rooney squandered a gilt-edged chance, heading wide without any pressure from a corner. In between, Mustapha Riga pinged the ball inside the area but Pavlovic side-netted from an acute angle.

Like the first half, Pune FC had the better ball possession but failed to keep rival keeper Porei busy under the bar as the match until the final quarter of the match.

Substitute Anthony D’Souza made the most of some poor marking from Bengaluru FC inside the box nodding home off another substitute Othallo Tabia’s inch-perfect cross.

The visitors went for the kill after the equaliser with Porei working overtime in the closing minutes. He was first called into action for a double save from substitute striker Thongkosiem Haokip's close range shot which was followed up minutes later with another decent save off the same player.

The result means little to the title race with Bengaluru FC staying atop the heap with 38 points from 21 matches while chasers Pune FC – playing a game less -- remain third with 31 in their kitty.

Second-placed Salgaocar who are on 34 points from 20 matches, can now close the gap to four points on the leaders with a win against relegation threatened Rangdajied United FC on Saturday (March 29, 2014).

(Picture Courtesy: Bengaluru FC)